第29部分(第5/7 頁)

　service　to　one　who　has　rendered　a　service　to　them；　they　will　do　it。　I　was　generous　once　to　you；　Mademoiselle。　When　I　might　have　spoken；　I　held　my　tongue。〃

There　was　another　silence；　then　the　girl　said；　〃My　father　gave　you　a　hint　the　other　day。〃

〃It　was　very　kind　of　him。〃

〃I　do　not　think；〃　said　Zia　slowly；　〃that　there　is　anything　that　I　can　add　to　that。〃

If　Poirot　was　disappointed　he　did　not　show　it。　Not　a　muscle　of　his　face　changed。

〃Eh　bien！〃　he　said　cheerfully；　〃then　we　must　talk　of　other　things。〃

And　he　proceeded　to　chat　gaily。　The　girl　was　distrait；　however；　and　her　answers　were　mechanical　and　not　always　to　the　point。　It　was　when　they　were　approaching　the　Casino　once　more　that　she　seemed　to　e　to　a　decision。

〃M。　Poirot？〃

〃Yes；　Mademoiselle？〃

〃I　…　I　should　like　to　help　you　if　I　could。〃

〃You　are　very　amiable；　Mademoiselle　…　very　amiable。〃

Again　there　was　a　pause。　Poirot　did　not　press　her。　He　was　quite　content　to　wait　and　let　her　take　her　own　time。

〃Ah　bah；〃　said　Zia；　〃after　all；　why　should　I　not　tell　you？　My　father　is　cautious　…　very　cautious　in　everything　he　says。　But　I　know　that　with　you　it　is　not　necessary。　You　have　told　us　it　is　only　the　murderer　you　seek；　and　that　you　are　not　concerned　over　the　jewels。　I　believe　you。　You　were　quite　right　when　you　guessed　that　we　were　in　Nice　because　of　the　rubies。　They　have　been　handed　over　here　according　to　plan。　My　father　has　them　now。　He　gave　you　a　hint　the　other　day　as　to　who　our　mysterious　client　was。〃

〃The　Marquis？〃　murmured　Poirot　softly。

〃Yes；　the　Marquis。〃

〃Have　you　ever　seen　the　Marquis；　Mademoiselle　Zia？〃

〃Once；〃　said　the　girl。　〃But　not　very　well；〃　she　added。　〃It　was　through　a　keyhole。〃

〃That　always　pr